Fritole with soul (with recipe)

Fritole with soul (fancli z dušo / fritole con l’anima) is a simple but extremely tasty traditional dish prepared in the Karst. It’s an old recipe of the poor people. In the heart of fritole is hidden the anchovy filet which was available in every house in every season. When there were no refrigerators yet, conservation of food with salt was one of the few possibilities to maintain it eatable also for longer periods of time. This is original recipe as presented by Vesna Guštin, who is taking care of the preservation of the carsic culture and tradition.

Ingridients:

Dough: 1 kg of flour, 2 eggs, 3 dag of yeast, 1 glass of oil, 1 glass of white wine, a shot of grappa, a bit of salt, a bit of lukewarm water,

+ 10 dag anchovy fillets, oil for frying.

From the ingredients listed above prepare a dough and let it rise. Cut the anchovy fillets into halves. When dough is raised, make small portions with a spoon. Put a piece of the anchovy fillet into each spoon of dough and cover it with dough. Fry it in the hot oil.